Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-23
BOOMING WICHITA.
Another Grand Church"-St. Paul's
Evangelical Lutheran

From the Lutheran Observer.
The above heading was the subject of q
very spirited and friendly editorial by Mr..
NJ. NJ. Murdoch, editor of the Wichita
EAGLE, the lending daily paper of the city.
We would give the editorial in full, but
even editorials get out Of date. Before the
facts stated in the editorial were in print
they needed revising, so fast has our work
grown in this phenomenal city
By previous arrangement. Rev Bro.
Belmer. of Peabody. and Rev + d. Alt
man, Of Emporia, went TO Wichita, Fri
day. March 4th. They worked very
hard, and by Monday, when we Joined
them, they had the names of over sixty
Lutherans. On Sunday they preached in
Garfield opera house, morning and even
ing, to good and deeply interested audi
ences. On Monday the lot question was
finally settled 1t is the finest corner for
church purposes in the city 1t is TOXIC
feet in size. and cost $4,000. We had OBJ.
tanned two subscriptions of $1,000 each
from brothers Blackwelder and Eichholtz,
and had no notice of getting more from
them. But they chad few words in a
corner" and each raised his subscription
$500 mOre-thus paying for the lot them
new organization free of debt.
On Monday night we organized. There
were twenty charter members, but there
were others who wanted to be enrolled as
charter members, but who. could not be
present that evening, so the book was to
he kept open until the next meeting.
There will be at least forty names when
these have had IN opportunity to enroll A
full body of officers was then organized
Brothers Blackwelder aud Jack, elders:
Brothers Miller, Cress. Zeininger and 70
he, deacons, and Brothers Eichholtz,
Blackwelder (repeated) and Dickson, trus-
tess. We doubt if any Lutheran church
in the west can show finer set of officers.
After canvassing all present for sub.
scriptions and getting all We could, we then
our church papers, the Observer
and the Evangelist. and secured six sub
scri6ers for the Observer An order was
then sent the publication house for two
dozen books of worship and a church
record. Two committees were appointed,
one to solicit members. the other to ar
range for divine services until a pastor
came on the ground.
The Rev.sW II. Sipgley. d. D., was
elected by rising vote. TO
becon ne the pastor of this enterpris;ng and
hopeful organization. Il is confidently
expected that he will scccpt and be on
the ground at al early day He ought no,
TO lose one weeks precious time. Much
depends upon taking up the work at once.
Quite number want to see the enterprise
under way before joining it.
Besides the money subscribed and maid
on the lot: we have toward The church
building 50. $50. And all this has been ac-
in two hurri visits Wei
have plans in mind now for developing the
state, which We shall 10, d:vulge Al present.
But we want to emphasize just on e
thought If all our congregations and
synods would arouse and do the work next
them. As well as they could. We could
double the strength of the General Synod
ia very short time We can get ten dol |
lars To one for home enterprises, and if We
would all only have some home enterprise |
some special work in which there would |
be cooperaiion-then all over our vsss field |
there would be the sound of trowel and |
hammer in building new churches
We give our private judgement OF what |
IAN be ACCOMPLISHED in one year |
1t Wichita, after having been on the |
ground and given it esreful stud. We |
believe that the RICH. kind VI .